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Hundreds of miles from Ping An City, five figures soared through the mist-laden skies, men and women gliding with ethereal grace.
At the forefront was an elder, a longsword strapped to his back, his aura so terrifying that airborne spirit beasts fled in panic. Trailing behind was a middle-aged man in matching robes, his gaze locked on the trio ahead, thoughts inscrutable.
The trio was Lan An, Mu Zi Yin, and Liu Shi Qin. Leading them was Qing Yun Sect's Grand Elder, Gu Dun Di. Monitoring from the rear was Enforcement Elder Gu Zheng.
In this desolate expanse, where passing cultivators were deterred by Gu Dun Di's presence, Lan An transmitted to the women, "Stay alert. Something interesting's brewing. Aunt, relax completely—I'll pull you into the Spirit Realm Pearl if conflict erupts."
"You think they'll strike?" Mu Zi Yin asked, skeptical.
"Aren't they escorting us to Qing Yun Sect for investigation?" Liu Shi Qin's small hand tightened.
"How would they investigate? A lie-detecting artifact? If Gu Zheng had one, he'd have used it in Ping An City, not dragged us out here," Lan An analyzed via transmission.
The women jolted, realizing no such artifact or technique was known to discern truth from lies.
"What do you mean?" Liu Shi Qin's face darkened, dread creeping in.
Mu Zi Yin, sharp as ever, awaited Lan An's confirmation.
"Exactly. To verify lies, the surest way is to seize memories or soul-search—cruel methods," Lan An said grimly.
Their expressions soured. Memory seizure left victims dazed and dim-witted, while soul-searching could render them vegetative or kill them by shattering their soul.
"With their status, they don't need to haul us to Qing Yun Sect. They chose this remote spot to act discreetly, preserving the sect's facade," Lan An continued.
Before the women could strategize, as if confirming Lan An's words, Gu Dun Di whirled, his fingers clawing toward Lan An, infused with Spirit Transformation spiritual energy. Against an ordinary foe, capture would be instant—but Lan An was far from ordinary.
Whoosh.
A strange sound echoed. Inches from Gu Dun Di's grasp, Lan An vanished.
"Oh?" Gu Dun Di raised a brow, surprised the youth evaded him.
"Aunt, in now!" Lan An transmitted to Liu Shi Qin, pulling her into the Spirit Realm Pearl before she could react.
"Living-space artifact!" Gu Dun Di and Gu Zheng's eyes gleamed with insatiable greed.
"What are you doing?" Lan An feigned panic, clinging to Mu Zi Yin.
Gu Zheng sneered, pitying the Spirit Transformation woman for marrying such a "spineless" man.
"Let me probe your memories. If Gu You and Gu Fei Hua's deaths are unrelated to Liu Clan, we'll release your wife," Gu Dun Di said nonchalantly, as if it were trivial.
Inwardly, he schemed—a Spirit Transformation woman as a cultivation furnace and a living-space artifact were unexpected windfalls.
"On what grounds?" Lan An's face twisted, cowering behind Mu Zi Yin, voice quavering.
"My fist dwarfs yours. The weak obey the strong," Gu Dun Di declared arrogantly.
"Oh? And if we defy you?" Lan An stammered.
"You both die," Gu Zheng snarled.
"Aiya, I'm terrified!" Lan An wailed, hugging Mu Zi Yin's alluring waist tighter, trembling. "Wife, they want to kill us! What do we do?"
Mu Zi Yin smiled, eyeing the elders, her lips parting softly, "Oh, so you've chosen death."
Long by Lan An's side, her gentle, resolute nature had absorbed his cheeky defiance.
"You…" Gu Zheng and Gu Dun Di fumed. This couple had been mocking them from the start.
What was this world? Shouldn't the weak cower before the strong? Why weren't they groveling?
Baffled, the elders abandoned reason. Their swords unsheathed, streaking toward Lan An and Mu Zi Yin.
"Oh, two Earth-Grade weapons—decent, but outclassed by my wife's," Lan An grinned, releasing Mu Zi Yin.
He relished orchestrating from behind while his wife fought.
A purple longsword materialized in Mu Zi Yin's hand. She slashed, meeting the incoming blades.
Clang! Clang!
Two clashes reverberated, spiritual energy rippling through the clouds, flinging the elders' swords back. Mu Zi Yin staggered ten steps, her cultivation two minor realms below Gu Dun Di's.
Yet, this stunned Gu Zheng and Gu Dun Di. Gripping their swords, they felt them tremble, as if fearing the purple blade.
"Heaven-Grade longsword?" they gasped.
Only Sect Master Gu Fei Tian wielded a Supreme Earth-Grade artifact in Qing Yun Sect. This woman's weapon was unthinkable.
"Who are you to Liu Clan?" Gu Zheng felt unease. A living-space artifact and Heaven-Grade sword screamed extraordinary origins.
"No matter their identity, their treasures are ours today!" Gu Dun Di's face flushed, craving the Heaven-Grade sword.
"Old dog deserves death. Wife, can you handle him?" Lan An transmitted.
"I can stall him, but defeating him is tough—his sword's Earth-Grade," Mu Zi Yin replied.
"No worries. Hold him off. I'll deal with Gu Zheng and join you," Lan An planned.
Mu Zi Yin nodded, shouting, "Butterfly Close Strike!"
Her graceful form danced like a butterfly, closing on Gu Dun Di. The Purple Wood Sword slashed at his head.
"Too naive. Full Gale Slash!" Gu Dun Di sneered, his aura erupting. Forgoing defense, he swung horizontally at Mu Zi Yin's waist.
Startled by his reckless counter, Mu Zi Yin stepped back, face grave.
"Haha, others might block your strike, but not Gu Dun Di. You cut me, I cut back—let's see who dies first!" he cackled, reveling in his madman's style.
"Crazy old coot. Hurry and help, Wife!" Lan An thought.
Suddenly, Gu Zheng vanished like a gust, his sword slicing at Lan An's head.
Whoosh.
That eerie sound again—Lan An reappeared afar.
"Damn it, a Heaven-Grade movement art!" Gu Zheng seethed. Qing Yun Sect's top movement art was only Earth-Grade, outclassed here.
"Wife, I'll send Earth Bear to assist. Fight freely!" Lan An's mind stirred.
The Earth Spirit Cauldron spun wildly.
Roar!
A thunderous bellow shook the heavens. The majestic Earth Bear emerged, empowered by soul energy to act freely. It charged Gu Dun Di, its massive fist crashing down.
"Full Gale Slash!" Gu Dun Di cleaved, severing the bear's arm.
But another arm regrew, smashing at his head.
"What's this thing?" Gu Dun Di gasped, dodging with his movement art. Mad as he was, he wouldn't trade blows with a lifeless construct.
Seizing the moment, Mu Zi Yin vanished, her Purple Wood Sword slashing again.
Clang!
Gu Dun Di barely blocked, face reddening with rage. Defending against a weaker foe drove him wild.
Assured Mu Zi Yin was safe with Earth Bear, Lan An turned to Gu Zheng. His Phantom Charm Wander Step closed the distance.
"Fool!" Gu Zheng sneered, relieved his elusive foe approached.
"Green Breeze Sword Art—Cloud-Splitting Slash!"
Winds howled, his sword bearing immense force, cleaving at Lan An.
Facing the sharp sword aura, Lan An roared, "Great Flood Kick!"
His Earth Battle Boots gleamed, Three-Turn Body Cultivation surged, and Mysterious Water spiritual energy empowered his legs. He kicked the sword aura head-on.
Whoosh!
To Gu Zheng's disbelief, the Cloud-Splitting Slash's aura split, slicing clouds on either side in a spectacular display.
Giving no respite, Lan An pressed, "Wood Form Fist!"
His arm morphed into a massive tree trunk, targeting Gu Zheng's chest.
"Wind Armor!" Gu Zheng refused to be struck, summoning a defensive art.
Winds enveloped him, forming a protective layer.
Lan An sneered, unrelenting. Wood Form Fist hammered the armor.
After two punches, Gu Zheng smirked, unscathed. "My Wind Armor is invincible—"
Crack!
The third punch shattered ribs, silencing him.
Gu Zheng spiraled through the air, struggling to stabilize, incredulous. "My Wind Armor—how?"
Devouring Heaven Wood had consumed the wind energy in the first two strikes, letting the third land true.
Gu Zheng glared venomously, fear creeping in. Swallowing a healing pill, he staunched his wounds.
Gu Dun Di, entangled by Mu Zi Yin and Earth Bear, grew furious. His superior strength was neutered by the Heaven-Grade sword and the bear's relentless blocks, thwarting his life-for-life style.
Seeing Gu Zheng injured, he unleashed full power.
"Cloud-Splitting Slash!"
His sword danced, winds and clouds surging, a hundred times stronger than Gu Zheng's.
A colossal sword aura tore toward Mu Zi Yin.
Roar!
Earth Bear fearlessly intercepted, pounding the aura.
Slash!
Near-Perfection Spirit Transformation power shredded the bear, scattering it.
The weakened aura pressed on.
Mu Zi Yin shouted, "Ancestral Tree Shelter!"
Wood spiritual energy formed a towering ancient tree before her, a Tian Mu Sect technique once used by its Fourth Elder against Lan An.
The sword aura struck, the tree's shimmering branches slowing it.
Slash!
The aura prevailed, dispersing the tree, but its power dwindled.
Mu Zi Yin's Purple Wood Sword slashed, neutralizing the attack.
"Your tricks abound, but how long can you last?" Gu Dun Di sneered, launching another Cloud-Splitting Slash.
Mu Zi Yin, now experienced, countered, "Butterfly Chaos Dance!"
Her Purple Wood Sword wove, butterflies fluttering across the sky, obscuring her form.
The sword aura pierced the butterflies, but she was gone.
"Grand Elder, behind you!" Gu Zheng warned.
"Hmph, mind yourself!" Lan An snorted, Speed Shift activating, Great Flood Kick striking.
Crack!
Bones snapped again. Gu Zheng spewed blood.
Lan An's eyes gleamed, Piercing Weakness Vision scanning. A fiery purple Spirit Bullet spun in his palm.
He aimed to kill Gu Zheng swiftly to aid Mu Zi Yin.
Meanwhile, Gu Dun Di snapped alert, whirling.
A swarm of eerie butterflies materialized behind him. Mu Zi Yin stepped forth, her Purple Wood Sword gleaming, voice icy, "One-Strike Kill!"
The purple blade swept, its aura blanketing the sky, elusive and unstoppable, baffling even his Spirit Transformation divine sense.
Drawing on decades of battle instinct, Gu Dun Di shifted at the last second.
"Aaagh!"
A scream echoed. His arm sailed through the air, blood gushing like a fountain.
Gu Dun Di lost an arm.
Mu Zi Yin paled, stunned he dodged a headshot at the brink. Her One-Strike Kill drained her spiritual energy, but experience kept her aloft.
"Worthy of Late-Stage Spirit Transformation," she gasped, exhausted.
"I underestimated him. A Grand Elder isn't simple," she thought. The Purple Wood Sword had fueled her confidence against Late-Stage foes, but she fell short.
"Wretch, you'll die!" Gu Dun Di roared, his sword surging with wind energy, killing intent tangible, slashing at the beauty without mercy.